Saturday, October 28, 2006

Well, it was a win. That's about all I can say. The defense looked great, the offense looked lost.

Couple of quick thoughts...

* Leon Hall played BIG. He was like a blanket out there. Which leads to the question...* Why was NW attacking his side of the field that much? Wouldn't you got at Trent and the others more instead?* I don't have confidence with Grady at RB. He puts too many on the turf.* Breaston can be counted on to drop one or two sure first downs a game. Very frustrating.* Good to see Jerome Jackson get a shot and play well in the 4th Q.* If not for key 'Cat turnovers, this game might have even been closer.* We really, really, really miss Manningham. * Thank god for Ball State next week.

I couldn't believe we didn't go for it with about 2 minutes left in the first half and a fourth and 2 at their forty. Our D was playing well, and the lack of agressiveness in situations like that keeps games like this close.

Ball State not on cable tv, not on (((XM))), I have to go back to the days of watching the ticker or maybe i'll do the gamecast, ESPN is really putting the screws to the local cable company here in San Diego (COX) to get ESPNU.

I don't know why Grady is getting criticized for fumbling today. He didn't fumble. The ball was - correctly - blown dead. And I agree with Anon above that the offense was very vanilla, though we do miss Manningham more than I thought we would.

Although the offense was poor today, I thought the game was more fun than the MSU game. I was starting to feel for the NW qb, he was getting killed every play that wasn't a 3 step drop.

Remember that this is Lloyd's dream season. Great defense, solid running game, always playing with the lead. Don't expect him to change it up unless he has to. I think more of the playbook will be used on Nov 18th as well

relax, Yost. The offense does what it has to do to win. they arent going to call deep bombs if they dont have to, or take chances unless it is necessary. the offense can explode, but there is no sense in taking chances or running up the score. that is what leads to upset losses.

The game was great if you're a defense guy. Michigan D was in the house and if you were NOT in the house you have no idea how miserable it was. We have had cold, we have had rain and we have had wind but this was the 1st time we had cold blowing rain that I can recall in 18 years. It SUCKED but the Wolves did fine. Grady needs to keep working the bicep curls and carry that silk ball. I think we are spoiled by the awesome ability of Hart to rarely lose a ball. Mike needs to train Kevin in case hart leaves after this year. It sucks that the season ticket holders are harnessed with a November nonconference game. I would love to have had the opportunity to opttion out of that game so others could sit in the set (right...). Oh well, 21 days until the trip to the industrial toilet seat!GO BLUE!

Even though the turnovers were "committed" by the Wildcats, don't forget that they were what (in tennis at least) are called "forced error" - they are a credit to the defense relentlessly putting pressure on the NW offensive line and QB.

it was 42 degrees,25 mph winds (and gusts to 50), & driving rains. a couple of early passes bent by 30 degrees into the wind. pretty obvious that early on they decided to button things down and grind it out.

good call- only way NU was going to score was on a TO/good field position.

I'm not a tosu fan. They are probably as bad a program as you could be. Their litany of misdeeds is a long & plentiful one under Tressel. That said my defense of CW is because I watched what you did not in his press conference. By reporting an error filled critique you are well on your way to writing for the "Old gray lady". I really enjoy your comment & insights, hilarious.Don't ban me from the site. Jim. PS. Break Up the Temple Owls!!!!

I'd take effeciency over explosive any day of the week. What scares me is how efficient Troy Smith is.

Anon in San Diego:

You can go to mgoblue.com under the footballpage is the link to the radio broadcast. There are two options the CSTV one doesn't work but the other one will let you listen on line. Very handy for when I have to work on gamedays. Try it and hopefully it will work for you.

Vanilla, yes, but there were also a few things to cause some concern - not to freak out and call for Mike DeBord's head or anything like that, but some concern, yes.

First, Breaston continues to drop 1st down passes. I'm not exactly how many he's dropped this year, but it's gotta' be in double digits. I just worry that he'll drop another first down against OSU when it could make a difference in the game.

Second, even though they rushed for 200 yards, I wasn't that impressed by the running game overall. Perhaps it's because of the banged up O-line, but I thought there were too many 0, 1, and 2 yard runs which led to quite a few 3rd and more than 5's.

Again, it might be because of the injuries, but I thought the pass protection was the worst I've seen since earlier in the year. NW is not a good team ... they shouldn't have had that much pressure on Henne.

Regardless, it was a win ... and UM is one step closer to being 11-0 going into Columbus!

This game didn't bother me too much in the big picture (for reasons already noted by others) though if we are as flat on offense at IU we could have problems.

But I am bothered by how consistently mediocre Grady is. He was among the top rated recruits in the nation two years ago, but he (at this admittedly early part of his career) shows nothing--average speed, power, and hands and less-than-average insticts. Granted, Hart could carry 30+ times vs. tOSU and do the job as Chris Perry did in '03. But I'd feel a lot better if I had confidence in any other RB.

BTW, the Game Day crew just brought up the possibility that the M-tOSU loser could end up #2, setting up a rematch in the championship game. Actually makes some sense.

This game reminded me of the Purdue game in '95. That day (Halloween weekend), it was about zero with the wind chill (35 without), driving rain/sleet, pure misery. The stadium was at about 50,000 by the third quarter. We ended up winning 5-0 (on an a safety sack by Woodson the freshman btw), yet the game never really felt in doubt.

Today we scored a nice TD early before the weather got horrid. Then both defenses used the conditions to their advantage.

THe 2006 Michigan Wolverines are the college football equivalent of the 2000 Baltimore Ravens. Chad Henne only needs to be Trent Dilfer, not Troy Smith or Payton Manning. Hart is our Jamal Lewis, Woodley is Ray Lewis (minus the homicide). There is no shame in winning ugly behind a solid running game and a great defense.

I can't believe that after 9 weeks people still don't understand that this is how Michigan is going to win games this year. Quit complaining and try to enjoy our undefeated season.

I am going to petition the NCAA that injured or removed QB's be counted as a stat. Also very hard to throw when you don't know your own name.

Whitedawg,

I am pleased to inform you that you were the first tOSU troll to go to my blog. Please feel free to never go there again unless you want to discuss football in a civil discourse (that means talk about something not where you just run your mouth)

It was a good game. However, I admit that after being conditioned for a couple years of so many down to the wire games, it seemed a little boring. Historically, such games have been boring. It's nice to get back to tradition.

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